Dear Calum Miller,
Subject: Heyford Park New Town (Ref: 25/02190/HYBRID)
Kirtlington Parish Council (KPC), supported by the residents of Kirtlington, would like to register its objection to the subject development, and to comment on the apparently uncoordinated approach to reviewing several significant planning applications in the surrounding area, including Puy du Fou. These will have a material negative effect on the lives, health and safety of our residents.
KPC recognises the necessity for National and Regional growth and is not against development per se. However, each, individually, and as a whole, needs to be considered in the context of an infrastructure capable of supporting the proposed new homes and businesses, with a specific obligation for these to be in place by the time each development is operational. We will respond to each specific planning application through the normal channels, but wish to register concerns which are specific to Heyford Park, but also apply to surrounding proposed developments:
Road and Rail Transportation. The A4095, which runs through Kirtlington, is a series of non-contiguous country lanes already congested at the junctions with other roads to the east and west of Kirtlington. The village is currently burdened by a high volume of private vehicle traffic and heavy goods vehicles. This passes directly in front of our Primary School on a road which is essentially single track over many sections within the village boundary. This road is sub-standard in terms of its A-class status and passes right through the heart of the Conservation area of this historic village.
The assertion by the Heyford Park developer that ‘70% of all new trips generated by the new development would be internalised’ is not supported by any data and there is clearly a significant difference between ‘a proposed new station at Ardley’ (we understand that Chiltern Railways are lukewarm about this) and a firm commitment integral to planning conditions. Likewise, the claim that the additional vehicular travel can be accommodated with ‘just seven minor junction improvement works’ is without any foundation. Regular users of local roads would no doubt concur that new or improved road infrastructure North – South and to the South West connecting the M40 (including junction improvements) and A34 requires consideration.
Sewerage. We note that the application acknowledges existing deficiencies and proposes non-specific ‘improvements to foul drainage systems’. We wish to highlight that we have elderly residents forced to cling-film their toilets before leaving their properties for fear of sewerage ‘backing up’ through the system into their homes – far from an uncommon occurrence. This is clearly totally unacceptable and our objection rests until there is a clear commitment to a foul water system in the area capable of coping with both the existing problems and new development.
Flooding. Again, we have a significant existing problem which is likely to be exacerbated, as we are downstream of this and other developments with the River Cherwell and Gallos Brook close by. In periods of inclement weather we already have situations where the water table is sufficiently high to cause flooding in areas, such as south of the Bletchingdon Road, which need to be addressed.
KPC has enjoyed a good working relationship with Dorchester Living Ltd, but the proposed expansion from ‘brown’ to green’ field areas, with significantly more homes, requires proper consideration of the development’s impact on local communities. We call on Cherwell District Council (CDC) and Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to address this and to examine the concomitant infrastructure requirements of the regional plan.
Further, we have been unable to get any meaningful information from the CDC representative at our monthly meeting about the process and plans to apply S106 monies to address these issues. We understand that substantial sums are being held by OCC, and thus we plan to file a freedom of information request in order to ascertain the amount being held, the process for using that money, and time-bounded application of the funds for local improvements.
Sent on behalf of Kirtlington Parish Council
Copies of this letter will be sent to local and national press.